All mechanical heart valve prostheses produce audible metalic sound during opening and closing period. We investigated the intensities of mechanical heart valve sounds and related subjective complaints in patients with four different commonly used valves.

This prospective study includes randomly selected 75 patients with single valve replacement either in aortic or mitral positions. Carbomedics in 15, Ultracor in 21, Sorin in 19, Björk-Shiley Monostrut mechanical heart valve in 20 patients were used. Sound pressure levels were recorded by calibrated sound proof-room. The influence of age, body surface area, valve diameter, blood pressure and cardiac rhythm on results were examined.

In fast and impulse modes the Björk-Shiley Monostrut valve was significantly louder than the other valves at 100 cm distance as well as at 10 cm distance. Although the Ultracor valve was less louder than the other valves. 66.7 % (10) of the Carbomedics patients, 61.9 % (13) of the Ultracor patients, 80 % (16) of the Björk-Shiley Monostrut patients and 94 % (18) of the Sorin patients could hear their valve sounds. Sleep disturbance, audible valve sounds by the people around the patients and preference of a less noisy valve were also higher in the louder valves.

The sound of mechanical valve and the related complaints correlate to the objectively measured sound pressures and frequencies. Thereforc disturbing effect of mechanical heart valve sound should be considered when a heart valve prostheses is implanted.